2012 Old Boys MRSL Squad

1. Ryan Horstman

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Previous club: Minnesota FC

An experienced campaigner who, like Marcus Aurelius, Alexander the Great or Arnold Schwarzenegger, fights on, secure in the knowledge that his accomplishments will only continue to grow, Horstman is a veteran leader in the team.

2. Alex Haueter

Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Previous club: Blue Star FC

The tricky winger may have earned the sobriquet “Sicknote” after a string of dodgy excuses, but there is no doubting his ability on the field or willingness to fight for the cause in the heat of battle. He is like a trusted collie who won’t ever let you down. If that collie could cross from the byline, that is.

3. Paul Shanafelt

Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Previous clubs: Iowa City FC

The hard working Shanafelt quietly goes about his business. His business is calm passing, perceptive positioning, and running until the lungs of a mere mortal would burst.

4. Adam Belz

Hometown:
Previous clubs:

Ask not for whom the Belz tolls, forwards, he tolls for you. And when his tackles hit you like the Millennium Falcon jumping to light speed, you will be wishing that you had never laughed at a silly pun about Adam Belz.

5. Holger Meiser

Hometown: Eppelborn, Germany
Previous club: SV Bubach-Calmesweiler

As Barney Stinson might say, Holger Meiser is legen – wait for it – dary. The happy-go-lucky German pairs comfort on the ball with European nous, and no little ability to go to 11 when everyone else is playing on a scale of 1 to 10.

6. Graham Campbell

Hometown: Brooklyn Center, MN
Previous club: Park Center Pirates

So fast that for a time people were asking if that Campbell had a Hemi, the winger is a downright unruly presence on the field, harrying, bursting up the wing, pressing and darting hither and thither. He is a whirling dervish of awesome.

7. Andy Delain

Hometown: Germantown, WI
Previous club: FC Germantown

A small-sided savant, Delain’s vision and quickness of feet – he has by far the best dance move in the club – make him a key element of the Stegman’s attack.

8. Will Reynolds

Hometown: Culpeper, VA
Previous club:

His Southern drawl and cavalier attitude may lull opponents into a false sense of security, but his powerful performances in the middle of park over the years mean that no Blues fan will take Reynolds for granted.

9. Luke Clayton

Hometown: St Paul, MN
Previous club: Carleton College

Blessed with searing pace, Clayton is so fast that after a sprint he seems to be smoking. Kind of like the DeLorean after its first jump into the future. Beyond speed, Clayton is a deadly finisher and won the club’s Golden Boot in 2011.

10. Zach Riggott

Hometown: Woodbury, MN
Previous club: Woodbury SC

Speak softly and carry a big stick, they say. In the absence of an actual stick since those are not allowed on a soccer field, Riggott brings a metaphorical stick in a hard countenance, single-minded focus and unflappable cool. It works.

12. Ben Savitt

A mountain of a man, Savitt’s power and close control are an incongruous and effective combination. A member of the original starting XI, Savitt has proven his worth through campaign after campaign and doesn’t look like slowing down.

13. Dave Tesch

Hometown: St Paul, MN
Previous club: Del Norte

Simply put, Tesch scores goals. The guns of the USS Missouri have less power, the cards in Gambit’s pocket less luck, and words of Casanova less surprising effect than Tesch’s right boot.

14. Bryan Larson

Hometown: Hopkins, MN
Previous club: Hopkins Dynamo

Equally comfortable between the sticks or flying down the wing, Larson’s athleticism and competitive spirit make him a dangerous opponent.

15. Steve Pomeroy

Hometown: Coloma, MI
Previous club: Michigan State

Power is his middle name. Not literally, I think that his middle name is something like Brian, but whether it is his shot, his rampaging runs from fullback or his aerial ability, Pomeroy is all power, all the time.

16. Matt Gorrell

Hometown: Eagan, MN
Previous club: Minnesota FC

Like a vintage Ferrari, Gorrell may not be as fast as the newer models but there is no mistaking his class, ability and the intangible edge he gets from having done it all before.

17. Gary Erzberger

Hometown: Lino Lakes, MN
Previous club: Centennial Spiders

“The Diesel” has a provocative nickname because he is a provocative player, none more so than when he has gotten up to full speed, ball at his feet, racing toward goal. It is a truly astonishing sight.

20. Nick Sindt

Hometown: Madison, WI
Previous club: Dominoes FC

Co-founder, captain and talisman, Nick Sindt’s versatility and will to win have made him a fan favorite. He can play anywhere on the park and his ghosting movement was almost enough to cause one opposing team to suggest he have an exorcism.

21. Lance Farrell

Hometown: Sioux City, IA
Previous club:

Telepathy may be something only for science fiction writers, but Farrell seems to have a touch of it such is the vision of his passing. The soft-spoken “King of Iowa” is always in the right place at the right time, both off and on the pitch.

22. Bobby Davies

Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Previous clubs: Hastings FC, Minnesota FC
Davies is as enlightened and elemental as a Zen master and has comfort on the ball to match. On his day, he is truly a maestro.